Emmitsburg, Maryland was calmer than it should rightly have been on Saturday evening, October 3, 2020. What should have been a bustling National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend was instead a quieter time, as COVID-19 forced the cancellation of our official memorial events.
On Sunday, October 4, at 10:00 am EDT, the lives of 82 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2019 and 21 firefighters who died in previous years will be remembered in the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s production of America’s Tribute to Fallen Firefighters. This 45-minute special will be available to watch on www.firehero.org and through the NFFF’s social media platforms.
Even during these extraordinary times, we find comfort and hope in coming together to support one another. This fall, communities can join us for the tribute to firefighters who died in the line of duty while protecting our neighborhoods. During this annual tribute, communities, faith congregations, and fire departments ring their bells on the weekend of the national tribute for fallen firefighters.
Even though we cannot be together in Emmitsburg this fall for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, it is more important than ever to show our Fire Hero Families and firefighters that we will always honor and remember our nation’s heroes. The Foundation invites individuals, communities, organizations, landmarks, and fire departments to join us for Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters.
Our volunteers, staff and Board of Directors evaluated many options to continue the tradition of gathering in front of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial this October. While we are disappointed to postpone the 2020 Memorial Weekend events, it is important to know that the nation’s fallen firefighters will not be forgotten. On October 4, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation will broadcast a National Tribute to honor America’s Fallen Firefighters.
Many of you may be wondering how this will impact the 2020 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend on October 3-4, 2020. At this time, no decision has been made.
We are working hard to provide important resources, workshops, and timely information to help both firefighters and our Fire Hero Families stay connected and well during these unprecedented times. These new resources can be found here on our website, shared through E-mail, and through our social media channels.
